Obituary for Robert H. Thompson

Obituary

Robert H. Thompson, 79, of Afton, died Sunday, February 4, 2018 at the Greater Regional Hospice Home – HCI in Creston. Military services will be 11 a.m. Thursday, February 8, 2018 at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery near Van Meter, Iowa. Open visitation will be 2 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7, at the Powers Funeral Home 612 N. Dodge Avenue in Afton, with family receiving friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, with a sharing time at 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Parkinson's Research. Online condolences can be made at www.powersfh.com.

Robert Harvey Thompson, son of Thelma (Magill) Thompson and Kenneth Ivan Thompson, was born on Sept. 1, 1938 in Afton. Kenneth and Thelma later divorced, and Thelma married Leroy Parrott in Afton. He graduated from Afton High School in 1957. Robert began his service in the United States Army in 1957, serving early on in Iceland and South Korea.

On December 19, 1962, Robert married Loretta F. Richardson in Stover, Missouri. They first lived in Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. They moved and served in Germany, moving back in 1967. They lived in Fort Benning, Georgia. Robert served two tours in Vietnam, then later in Fort Polk, Louisiana, Panama, and again in Georgia. In July 1979, he retired after 23 years, and they settled in Afton. Robert went on to work over 20 years at Fansteel/Wellman Dynamics, retiring again in 2001.

Robert was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, beginning in Afton, and later merging with Creston. He served on the V.F.W. Honor Guard, saluting local veterans